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Topic: What is this wire? (Read 799 times) previous topic - next topic

What is this wire?

I found it just dangling loose behind my dash. Below the pullout cupholder. It runs behind the steering column and through the wall to the outside in the front left corner of the dash. Any guesses?
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: What is this wire?

Reply #1 –
CB radio connector.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: What is this wire?

Reply #2 –
Quote from: craneman –
CB radio connector.
So that was my first guess, and I think it's a good one because my CB doesn't work, but I followed the wire from my CB back to that same exit hole where it disappears to the outside.

The CB goes into a little silver box behind the dash that the little speaker pictured also connects to. My finger in the second picture is on the wire out of the silver box that goes through the firewall
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: What is this wire?

Reply #3 –
You may be too young to remember.  Back in the old days  the cell phone were in a bag or box shape.  There was a location on the cell phone to connect an external antenna.  This connection is just like the CB one but about 1/2 the size.  On the top of your coach was/is a cell phone antenna.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: What is this wire?

Reply #5 –
Here is a picture of the Motorola bag phone.  Notice the antenna.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: What is this wire?

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Elliott –
I've also been wondering what goes in here

Elliot, that is a cassett like an eight track.  Way before your time for sure!  I still have some cassett tapes that would work in there!  lol
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: What is this wire?

Reply #7 –
Me too.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: What is this wire?

Reply #8 –
Good thing there wasn't an 8-track slot there. LOL 
Future Foretravel Owners
2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
Retired USAF, Retired DOD Civ's
FAA A&P, Indust. Eng., Acft Depot Lvl. Maint.
Larry and Becky Rountree

Re: What is this wire?

Reply #9 –
It even has Dolby B noise reduction built in. Premium rig! My my, how far we've come. We have gone from AM to FM stereo to beyond. These are the great days for true audiophiles.
The Starship- 1990 Grandvilla Unihome U300 40ft
6V92 Detroit Diesel w/ 4 spd Allison w/ retarder. Build# 3575 , Foretravel# 17895
The Shuttlecraft- 2015 Ford Explorer
Steve ( N6EKV ) & Lori ( N6JTD ) Faries  w/ Marlee our precious pup.
Patterson CA.

Re: What is this wire?

Reply #10 –
Replaced our dash radio with a blue tooth model, the DW can operate the controls from her iPhone.
Frank & Connie Williams
1999 U320 '36
Build: 5466
MC: 18335

Re: What is this wire?

Reply #11 –
The ultimate deck,the Nakamichi Dragon.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: What is this wire?

Reply #12 –
If my wife offers driving advice, I can just hit that eject button and launch her out of the coach right?
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: What is this wire?

Reply #13 –
Elliott, that may be a cellphone antenna connection, or it may be for something else. Definitely an antenna connector, though. Sure looks like a PL259 connector, which is what my cellphone coax had. I replaced the cellphone antenna with a 2M ⅝ wave antenna, and used that coax to connect to the radio. Pretty easy (and cheap) project.

Re: What is this wire?

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Elliott –
I've also been wondering what goes in here
At home you record your vinyl LP onto a 1/4" tape cassette.  Then you can p;ay back your tunes as many times as you like while preserving the LP.

Amazon.com: Fuji Dri90 Blank Audio Cassette 2pk Extraslim Case : Electronics

Art
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1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

Re: What is this wire?

Reply #15 –
It's definitely an antenna connection. Just what kind? Who knows, but the cell phone antenna sounds like a possibility. But I also liked the antenna for the CD radio. Next time I go behind the dash I'll have to look and see. I know that my CB doesn't have a good antenna connection. I also have a antenna connection in the upper passenger side front cap. Never did find what that went to. I figure if I'm not missing it I don't need it.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: What is this wire?

Reply #16 –

The second thing is used as a audio adapter port.
Amazon.com: Arsvita Car Audio Cassette to Aux Adapter , 3.5 MM Auxillary...

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Re: What is this wire?

Reply #17 –
Quote from: dsd –
The second thing is used as a audio adapter port.
Amazon.com: Arsvita Car Audio Cassette to Aux Adapter , 3.5 MM Auxillary...

I finally gave up searching my memory, and over breakfast asked:  What type of connector is this and received the reply push on BNC.
Could be CB radio, cable, or closed circuit television.
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1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

Re: What is this wire?

Reply #18 –
Yeah, the original radio was a pretty sweet unit in it's day but, time marches on.
The good news is that the unit is a standard double-DIN size and can fairly easily be replaced with a modern unit.
Just search for "double-DIN head unit" and you'll find a bunch of options, nearly all with Bluetooth cell phone connection, USB, and camera inputs for that handy 3rd/4th camera.
Looking for a Foretravel 
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